DIERKS AND PATTY'S BEAUTIFUL WORLD, GRAMMY NOD, BUT NO WIN

Dierks Bentley and Patty Griffin were nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for their awesome harmonies in Beautiful World. But the competition was tough.

Photo credit: Steve Granitz / WireImage.com Dierks Bentley arrives at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 31 at Staples Center in Los Angeles

The category was part of the pre-telecast show on Grammy.com instead of in the primetime evening televised show. About an hour before the nominees were read, Dierks posted on FaceBook/Twitter:

@DierksBentley at the Grammys! fingers crossed. #fb

That caused a flood of fans replying with their good luck wishes, but all to no avail.

The award was to recognize the best collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.

The Grammy Winner was Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis for I Told You So. And they were not even there to accepte the award! And, I believe the recorded version was not so much a "collaboration" as a studio stunt, dubbing their two voices together.

The other nominees included Down The Road (Kenny Chesney & Mac McAnally), Start A Band (Brad Paisley & Keith Urban), and Everything But Quits (Lee Ann Womack & George Strait). Some heavy hitters against Dierks' everday struggle to be recognized with the cream of the crop group.

Although I am very disappointed, I am very proud of our DB Congress president. This song will stand the test of time and become a classic! I know we'll press on because there's so much to live for and so much to love in this beautiful world! Say what you will, but I still believe it's a beautiful world and Dierks will be nominated for many for Grammys for years to come! And I know he will win, eventually!

Ronna
DB Congress Chair

DIERKS BENTLEY PERFORMS, MUSICARES HONORS NEIL YOUNG

Dierks Bentley and Booker T. Jones performed Neil Young's, "Cinnamon Girl"
during the 2010 MusiCares Person Of The Year Tribute last night in Los Angeles. Young was honored for his decades of philanthropic service, including work with Farm Aid and the Bridge School Concerts, which raise money to provide services for kids with severe speech and physical impairments.

Dierks' Red Carpet arrival (photo from zimbio.com):




Photo credit Getty Images (gettyimages.com):

Not everyone loved the performance. Apparently, thrasherwheat.org was not impressed: "Backed by frequent Young sideman Booker T. and his instantly identifiable organ, Bentley and his gruff pipes transform this immortal tune into twangy country-rock -- and lose a bit of the song's edge in the process."

Here is the original Neil Young recorded version of the song:



Musician Dierks Bentley performs onstage at the 2010 MusiCares Person Of The Year Tribute To Neil Young at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photos by Kevin Winter/Getty Images North America):

AZ REP GETS DJs ATTENTION FOR DB

Do you have trouble getting your local radio station to play a Dierks Bentley song? Have you tried calling and the phone rings and rings? What about email? Twitter, Text, Facebook? Are you getting the response you want? Well try what "Dearpie" did in Arizona! She sent this email to her DJ, trying to get his attention. Check out his reply!

Photo: M&G in Vegas, 12-11-09.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dearpie
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 12:48 PM
To: G., Billy
Subject: Song request

Will you please play Dierks' "Close your eyes" about 500 times,
please? :) hehehe. Thank you so much!

And about a minute later...

===========================================

------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: Song request
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:49:35 -0600
From: G., Billy
To: Dearpie

Now THAT'S funny! Lol Thanks for listening!

Billy

============================================

Dearpie replied to him: "It never hurts to ask! And the uncanny event of the day: As soon as I hit send, you played Sideways. At least we're on the same Dierks wavelength! ;) Have a great weekend!"

Funny how the smallest gesture can mean so much to us Dierks fans!

Leave comments below of your examples of your emails, tweets, texts, posts to your DJs to request Dierks and include their replies. You could win a prize!

WANT DIERKS TO SING TO YOU ON V-DAY?

Help Dierks get the most votes! Go to http://www.opry.com/and vote for "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" (although they spelled it "want to."

This Valentine’s Day, which love song would you like to have sung to you?

"Then"
"I Want To Make You Close Your Eyes"
"Only You Can Love Me This Way"
"Love Story"
"Valentine"

Dierks is in the lead right now with 29%! Let's keep it that way!

GRAND OLE OPRY MEMBER DIERKS BENTLEY TO PERFORM FEB. 19TH

An Opry member since October 1, 2005, Dierks Bentely will perform Friday, February 19 along with Craig Morgan, Diamond Rio, and the Del McCoury Band. The Grand Ole Opry returns to the Grand Ole Opry House in February, after spending most of the winter at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The Opry is one of my all time favorite places to see DB! Although he typically only gets 2-3 songs, it's well worth it to me! I'll probably listen and chat online with fellow DB fans this time, but I hope to see Dierks live and in person at the Opry some other time in 2010!

Here's a little of the DB's Opry history:

Because Dierks is touring non-stop all year, the Opry decided to take the invitation "on the road" to him. Opry member Marty Stuart briefly interrupted Dierks' performance in Los Angeles at the House of Blues to issue the welcome invitation. Dierks had no idea Stuart or the Opry officials were in the house. Stuart walked onto the stage an hour into Bentley's set and said, "Will you do it...will you marry the Grand Ole Opry? "Hell yeah!," Dierks replied. On Stuart's command the Opry microphone stand was positioned at center stage.

After the invitation, Bentley was left speechless and had a hard time getting through his next song. “This is the greatest night of my life. Thanks you guys for sharing this with me,” he stated to the packed house. “I had no idea what was going on.”

On October 1, 2005, Dierks was officially inducted as a member of the Opry.

From his early days in Nashville as a researcher at TNN, Dierks has had incredible admiration for the Opry and its members. In fact, he was such a fan in those days that the Opry's General Manager Pete Fisher had to go as far as limiting his backstage access making Dierks’ induction this week as the youngest member of the Opry a true benchmark in his career. “It’s like having a home off the road and a place you can always go to play music in town,” Dierks says about his new status as ‘Opry member.’ “The Opry is such a huge part of American history. It’s bigger than just country music. It’s a big reflection of our country.”

“Hopefully I can be a really great asset to the Opry, and I’m looking forward to proving that over years to come.”

HULLABALOU FEST ADDS DIERKS

What's all the hoopla about? Dierks Bentley will perform at HullabaLOU Music Festival at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on July 23.

Designed to be an annual event, the HullabaLOU Music Festival features a wide range of artists that blend the sounds of classic rock, country, adult contemporary and Bluegrass on five stages throughout Churchill Downs' sprawling 147-acre facility.

Sounds like a perfect place for Dierks to pitch his new bluegrass songs from his upcoming album! The Friday night line up also boasts Sam Bush, one of Bentley's idols and co-performer from Bonaroo a few years ago. Other country artists include hot newcomers Gloriana and legendary rockers The Doobie Brothers and Bon Jovi.

I know our Kentucky DB Congress reps are going to have a hard time passing up seeing Bentley in their back-yard!

The inaugural three-day music festival, scheduled for July 23-25 at the home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, will showcase more than 65 bands on five stages with Kenny Chesney (July 24) and Dave Matthews Band (July 25) serving as the headline acts for Saturday and Sunday.

Check out hullabaloufest.com for all the details and tickets.

DIERKS TO JAM AT BAMAJAM!

From Dierks.com, Fan Club section:

BAMAJAM WITH DIERKS
Posted by morgan on 27 Jan 2010
in Fan Club

DB Congress, we wanted you to be the first to know that Dierks is joining the fantastic lineup at this year's BamaJam in Enterprise, AL on June 3! It will be officially announced tomorrow, but we like to keep you guys in the know. Hope to see you there!

WILL DIERKS' LUCKY #7 HELP HIM WIN A GRAMMY?

Seven is Dierks Bentley's lucky number. Do you think placing the song "Beautiful World" as the #7 cut on the Feel That Fire album was a coincidence? I think it was probably purposeful. Dierks has said many times how special the song is to him. And the non-single grabbed the attention of The Grammy's to make it his 7th nomination in three years.

Up for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for the "Beautiful World," duet with Patty Griffin, Dierks tells cjdccountry.com's Margy Hollad that working with Patty was a dream come true, not to mention sharing a Grammy nomination.

"Just looking at my album and seeing her name on the back of the album, that we did a song together, is really special to me, so just to hear that our name will be called out as a nomination, especially for a song that wasn't even a single. All the other songs that we're goin'up against -- well, most of 'em -- were singles. It's just an album cut, but it's a powerful song and I'll save whatever nomination card I get. Whether we win or not, I'll save that as some sort of plaque somewhere cause it means just as much to me as winning would be."

Dierks shares his thoughts on the whole Grammy experience:

"This is my third time going to the Grammys, I think, and I enjoy it every time more and more cause I really do enjoy the whole circus that it is and enjoy being part of it and appreciate it more every time cause you never know when it's gonna be your last time, so I enjoy lookin'around at everything that there is. On the country scene, we're a pretty tight-knit community and you know everybody. It's a different kind of deal. This is more like a spectacle, with all the rock and pop and craziness. I love soakin' it in and all the parties and all the free beer and food. I love it!"

Watch the 52nd Anual Grammy Awards Sunday, January 31st on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. Be sure to cross your fingers, rub your rabbit's foot, pick a four leaf clover...whatever lucky charm you have and remember, sometimes the best we can do is just to whisper a prayer!

Dierks and Patty deserve to bring home the Grammy!

DIERKS PROMOTES DBCONGRESS.COM ON WQYK

A few weeks ago, Dierks Bentley did a radio tour, trying to get "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" to #1 (The song made it to #2). We shared with you all the audio interviews we could find!

My hometown Tampa, FL radio station - WQYK - also spoke with Dierks, after I emailed them the day before explaining all about DB Congress. I finally got the audio today and couldn't wait to share it with you below! Special thanks to Chuck at WQYK for putting up with my pestering and emailing it to me!

Enjoy!
Ronna, DB Congress Chair

'LONG TRIP ALONE' IS NOT ALONE ANYMORE

CMT compiled a list of the top 50 videos of the last decade based on "video viewing, including CMT's Top 20 Countdown airplay and viewer voting, airplay during CMT music video hours and on CMT Pure, viewing of on-demand videos, streaming onCMT.com and views on CMT Mobile." And guess who made the top 50? That's right, Dierks!

He may not have claimed the #1 spot (that honor went to Carrie Underwood), but considering how many videos have been made over the past DECADE, to make the top 50 is quite an honor itself. Congratulations to Dierks and big, big thanks to everyone who voted for 'Long Trip Alone.'

BENTLEY'S BLUEGRASS CD MAY BE HIS ONLY ALBUM IN 2010

Dierks Bentley has spent the last several weeks in the recording studio working on his first bluegrass project. Dierks had high hopes of cranking out two CDs this year, but he tells us that might not happen after all.

"I started off the year sayin' I'm gonna make two albums -- one straight up bluegrass and the other a country record -- but I've had so much fun makin'this bluegrass record. Of course, it's kind of morphed over this time to be something really unique. It's kind of a bluegrass, acoustic. It's a hybrid, but I'm cutting some songs from local guys here, some songs I've written on my own. (I) cut a Bob Dylan tune. I've got a Buddy Miller song, so it's kind of Americana, it's bluegrass, it's country. I hope my fans will like it."

Dierks says he wanted to shake things up a little bit while paying homage to one of his true musical loves at the same time.

"I've always had strong ties with the bluegrass community and really wanted to always make a record that focused a little bit more heavily on those relationships, and I just really love the record. It was just time to throw a wrench in everything and really switch it up. In the meantime, I'm writing a bunch of stuff for another record, but I'm really having fun with this. This might be the only record I put out this year. I'm just really having fun with it!"

There is no release date yet for Dierks' bluegrass CD.

Source: Dierks Bentley Working On 'hybrid' Bluegrass Cd by Margy Holland

WE FEST UPDATE

It's official! Dierks Bentley will perform August 7, along with Gretchen Wilson, Joe Nichols, and Hitchville. The evening will be headlined by Kenny Chesney.

We told you we'd let you know the exact date! The Minnesota festival is only $99 for all three nights. Check out all the details here.

DIERKS' CLEAN UP SPURS BUD'S 'HAIR'STORY

After Dierks Bentley published his recent teaser of a photo on Facebook/Twitter, MOM-NOS blogger found herself thinking two things: 1. Did Dierks Bentley cut his hair again? and 2.If he did, how is Bud going to react?

Many of you recall that Bud is MOM's 10-year-old autistic son who had some trouble understanding how Dierks could be long haired in one video and short-haired in the next. We also told you about the day that Dierks and Bud finally met here.

Read MOM's most recent blog, explaining the 'hair'story, here.

GRAMMY NOMINEE DIERKS BENTLEY CELEBRATES IN NASHVILLE

Dierks Bentley celebrated, along with the local all-genre Grammy Award Nominees, during a pre-party Thursday night at Nashville's Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, hosted by The Recording Academy. The 52nd annual Grammy Awards air Sunday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m.

"Nashville's coming of age, Nashville's crossing all genres. We're getting more nominees from this area, and it's pretty cool when you look around the room and see the caliber of people here," said George Flanigen, the national chairman of the board for the Recording Academy.

Dierks was nominated with Patty Griffin for their collaboration on the song, "Beautiful World," from the Feel That Fire CD. “I’ve been nominated six times before this, but this one really is special,” he said. “Just to see her name on my album means a lot to me, to look back there and see ‘featuring Patty Griffin.’ That’s really cool. It wasn’t even a single, and the fact that people picked it out of the album and it got nominated, and now we’ll be in L.A., it’s a huge honor for me. I don’t take it lightly at all.”


"Dierks Bentley's albums tend to include performances from people who aren't necessarily well-known to contem...porary country fans. The Grascals, Del McCoury and Patty Griffin come to mind. But Bentley, whose performance with Griffin on "Beautiful World" is Grammy-nominated, isn't thinking about expanding audiences for his collaborators when he goes in to record. "At the end of the day, it's about, 'Who do I want to sing with on this song?' " he said. "And on 'Beautiful World,' I was like, 'Dude, I got Patty Griffin to sing with me.' It was incredible."(Peter Cooper, the tennessean.com)

Photo courtesy of The Recording Academy® 2009. Photograph by Rick Diamond/ WireImage.com.

Dierks can be seen for a few seconds in this short video from the party.

Thanks to dierksfans.com for finding this story and pics.

EVIE BENTLEY: APPLE OF DADDY DIERKS EYE

(Photo: CountryWeekly-June29-09)

Little Evie Bentley is coming up on 16 months old, and naturally is the apple of daddy Dierks Bentley's eye. She's sporting T-shirts and posing for pictures in all the things daddy loves:

"I took a picture of her today and she's wearing a Station Inn t-shirt and holding a hockey stick, and those are two things that pretty much would sum up who I am. I love acoustic music, that's where I got my start, and I'm crazy about playing hockey!" Dierks told theboot.com.

I'm wondering if she ever got to wear the DB Congress shirt I gave Dierks at Last Call Ball last June--or maybe she's grown out of that size already!

DIERKS HOSTS COUNTRY COUNTDOWN USA

I received the following email from CCUSA. The pic is before Dierks shaved and cut the curls again:

"Dierks Bentley co-hosts Country Countdown USA this weekend. Normally, he would join host Lon Helton, but Lon got sick. So Dierks brought along label-mate and buddy Eric Church, who filled in for Lon. The two chat about Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Lady A, and a lot more. Country Countdown USA can be heard on 225 radio stations nationally.

Attached is a photo of Dierks & Eric at our studio."

Country Countdown USA
Nashville, TN
www.countrycountdownusa.com"

Enjoy the audio clips here.

You will hear:
~Dierks & Eric talk about winter vacation
~Dierks & Eric on Eric's look-alike in Lady A
~Dierks talks about his Grammy nomination
~Dierks talks about his new house
~Dierks on "play-dates" with Keith Urban
~Dierks on his look-alike: Billy Currington
~Dierks & Eric on tour with Brad Paisley
~Dierks & Eric on their friend Darius Rucker

All audio clips are also available to download in 1 mp3 file at dierksfans.com.

LONG TRIP ALONE ONLY $5!

Got a friend or family member who needs to be introduced to Dierks Bentley's music?

"Long Trip Alone" is just $5 at Amazon MP3 through the end of the month! Just send them this link, and you'll be well on your way to having another Dierks fan around!

DIERKS AND STRINGDUSTERS DO BLUEGRASS WITH CLASS

(Photo credit: TheStationInn.com Gallery)
Dierks Bentley went for a stroll down memory lane when he droppped by his old stomping ground, The Station Inn last night in Nashville, Tennessee, and performed with the Infamous Stringdusters. The bluegrass band was the headliner, but Dierks held his own. I think he's doing research for his upcoming stand-alone bluegrass album of his own!

Thanks to Pierce Greenberg, a contributing writer to the9513, for keeping DB Congress updated via Twitter and sharing his story and video of his live and in person experience last night: Dierks Bentley Drops In On The Infamous Stringdusters At Nashville’s Station Inn. Here's an excerpt:

"When it was Bentley’s turn to take the mic, he did so with humility and graciousness. His own “Lotta Leavin’ Left To Do” and “Free and Easy Down The Road I Go,” got the Stringdusters’ treatment, but the real highlights came when Bentley shed his radio-friendly skin. Jon Randall joined the stage for a killer version of the Dylan via Tim O’Brien classic “Señor.”

Bentley’s admiration for bluegrass really showed on the standard, “Roving Gambler”—he didn’t miss one beat. As a preview of things to come, everyone meshed on “17 Cents”—a song that Bentley recorded with the band for their upcoming album, Things That Fly (April 20th)."

Check out a preview of "17 Cents" here.

As you will see from the video from The Station Inn last night, Dierks finally had enough of the scruff! YEAH!



Dierks posted this pic on Twitter as a hint that he had lost the burly-man syndrome!

DIERKS GOES TO BAT FOR ARF

Dierks Bentley rescued both his dogs - Jake and George. So it was no surprise that he agreed to St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa's invitation to go to bat and help raise money to benefit animals, during Sunday night's concert in St. Louis, MO.

DB Congress Missouri Rep, Takara Dingley, posted a video of Dierks talking about how he acquired George (his weiner dog) on her facebook page. Click here.

People Rescuing Animals... Animals Rescuing People® That's the bio line from @ARFtweets, the Twitter page for Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation. Tony persuaded artists of various genres to perform to raise money for ARF. Dierks was the headliner, supported by Dennis DeYoung (Styx founder), Kathleen Madigan, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain, up and coming country artist David Nail and the Lovehammers.

Photo Credit: DBC MO Rep, Takara Dingley

"You don't ask people to do their whole show," LaRussa said. "You ask them to pitch a couple innings, take a couple at bats."

And that's exactly what they did. Dierks did not bring drummer Steve Misamore and bassist Robbie Harrington for the full blown extravaganza he is known for, but instead opted for an acoustic set with banjo man Tim Sergent and lead guitarist Rod Janzen including, "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)," "Feel That Fire," "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" and "What Was I Thinkin'."

Photo Credit: DBC MO Rep, Takara Dingley

Photo Credit: DBC IL Rep, Kristin Toon

DB Congress reps were in full force including David (KY), Debbie (IL), Kim (MO), Sara (MO), Bonnie (MO), Kristin (IL), Jayme (IL) and Takara (MO) (Photos below by Kim Durham).

Kim & Bonnie

Sarah, David, & Debbie

David and Debbie did get to talk to Dierks briefly, and told him about the 40 people chatting and listening online while he played the Opry Saturday night.

Dierks Bentley and St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa (Tim Sergent far left) Photo credit: Aimee Files

Dierks hit another home run, helping to raise money for an organization close to his heart--yes, he rescued George and Jake, but they rescued him right back and are a permanent part of the Bentley family. All the while on stage, Dierks was melting hearts in the audience with his voice and songs.

DIERKS BENTLEY TO JOIN KENNY, KEITH, KID ROCK AND MORE AT WE FEST

I know we've got Dierks Bentley Congress reps a plenty in Minnesota, and boy are they gonna be happy! Get rip-roaring ready for this summer 2010 festival, congress, cos Dierks has been added to the heavy-hitter line up!

What a great way to celebrate the WE Festival's 27th year! Located in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the WE FEST Amphitheater is on the Soo Pass Ranch, 4 miles south of Detroit Lakes on MN Highway 59.

Keith Urban, Kid Rock,and Kenny Chesney, will headline each evening - August 5, 6 and 7. Dierks, Jason Aldean, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Gloriana and Eric Church will round out the weekend. Even more artists are planned to be announced in the near future.

Tickets for WE Fest 2010 are available online at www.wefest.com.

As soon as we know the exact date Dierks will perform, we will let you know!

TODAY IS DIERKS' LAST DAY!

Hey DB Congress! Today is the last day to help Dierks Bentley get to #1 this week. We need to pull out all the stops on this campaign to get "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" to #1. If it doesn't happen this week and Tim or Jason take over and get to #1 before DB, it may never go #1. So it's gonna take an act of congress!

Call, email, tweet, text, post on yes.com...whatever you gotta do, but please let your DJs --all throughout the day--know how much Dierks and Eyes means to you and get them to play it again and again today! We have until midnight!

Go, Go, Go! We can do this!

Still need convincing? Watch the video again for motivation!



Thanks!

Ronna Clark
DB Congress Chair

WANT A SNEAK PEAK AT THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM?

If you follow Dierks on twitter, then you know he was recently in Brooklyn working on some new music with the Punch Brothers. It seems they had some fun outside of the studio as well! Check out this video from youtube!

BENTLEY AND BIG WHITE CREATE NEW TECHNOLOGY

Dierks Bentley used Twitter to show off his new technology that he and Big White developed. The innovative idea is going to generate millions! Maybe even enough for a new TRUCK!


me and big white (my truck) r working on some new side mirror technology to elimanate the blind spot #fb

DIERKS GOES ON A RADIO TOUR

Dierks may not be on the road right now, but with 'I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes' on the verge of being #1, our president has hit the campaign trail calling into radio stations across the country! If you hear Dierks on your local station, let us know and we'll keep adding the audio here so all our representatives can listen in!

**Mantel in the Morning on WGAR in Clevland, OH.




**Pat and Tom on KNCI in Sacramento, CA where one of our own Congress reps, Cassandra, gets a shout out!




**KJ97 in San Antonio, TX.




**US99 in Chicago, IL




**Mike and Amy on The Wolf 99.5 in Portland, OR.




**KILT in Houston, TX


**KNIX in Phoenix, AZ



**WMZQ in Rockville, MD

IDOL JUDGE SAYS DIERKS IS COMPETITION

American Idol judge, Kara DioGuardi, says that contestants may be celebrities during the show, but after that Dierks Bentley is their real-life competition. OK, I officially am changing my opinion of her. Of all the country artists she could have chosen to finish that sentence...she chose our DBC prez! Thanks, Kara!

Q. Do you think “American Idol” is the best way to find a recording artist?

A. Is it a TV show? One hundred percent it is a TV show. You can be a celebrity on the show, but at the end of the day, you’re entering into the music business afterward. You’re going to compete with Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Dierks Bentley — whatever genre you’re in. So yes, there’s a water-cooler thing going on because it’s a TV show, but it’s also enabling people who would never have the opportunity to showcase their voice. It’s that American dream — if you have it, someone will recognize it.

Read the rest of the article here: 'Idol' judge: Prepare to be shocked

KEEPING OUR "EYES" ON THE PRIZE

First of all, I want to apologize for my absence last week. I didn't have nearly as much available internet time while I was in Hawaii, which I suppose is the sign of a great vacation. But now that I'm back on the mainland and COLD reality, I will give you all the latest Billboard chart info that will publish on Thursday!

Dierks Bentley's "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" moves up to #2 this week, inching to be within just one position of that wonderful #1 spot! It's a mere 1.34 million audience impressions behind Reba's "Consider me Gone," and still gaining ever-so-surely, but Tim McGraw's "Southern Voice" is packing a slightly mightier punch which could blind-side Dierks's endeavor for 3 straight #1s. Basically, it is likely to catch "Consider me Gone" this week (the chart week ends Sunday), but there is a very real possibility that "Southern Voice" could leapfrog it to take the top spot. But, if it can hang on for 6 more days, and edge out Tim, it will snag #1 next week! (For what it's worth, IWMYCYE was the most-played song last week -- 1 spin higher than Reba!)

Congress, if there were ever a time to get on the phone, email, tweet, text, heck -- DRIVE to your local stations, this is the week to do it! Request it on your morning drive. Request it on your evening commute. The higher the audience, the better we'll be. We've got 6 days to get this song to #1. Hopefully I will be back in one week with excellent news!

As an aside, I tweeted while I was in Hawaii that after being on Kauai for just 24 hours, we'd heard Dierks 5 times. This is particularly interesting because just 1.5 years ago when we were last on Kauai, they didn't even have a Country radio station! The Dierks love wasn't confined to Kauai, though, because as our vacation went on and took us to 2 more of the Islands, Dierks continued to be the artist we heard the most (yes, I kept track). We heard all but 3 of his singles, and many of his songs were heard more than once (everything off FTF, for instance). The two artists played just as much as Dierks? Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks. Unfortunately for us Dierks fans, the Hawaii stations don't report to Billboard or Mediabase -- if they did, I'm fairly certain we'd have the audience boost we need to get to #1!

~ Carrie S. (DBC Rep/Chart Reporter ~ NC)

GRAMMY RECOGNITION BEATS BARACK, FORBES

When asked, DB Congress reps felt a Grammy nomination for Dierks Bentley's Beautiful World was the most note-worthy accomplishment of the country music artist's year of great achievements in 2009, with a 43% voting result. And that's just a nomination--he hasn't even won yet! Watch the Grammy Awards on CBS, January 31, 2010 · 8PM ET/PT.

Even though U.S. President Barack Obama quoted Dierks in a speech ("Dierks Bentley said country music is the best shrink $15 can buy"), and Forbes named him 1 of 10 of the next breakout stars, fans still feel passionately that a Grammy would speak volumes about Bentley's basically under-recognized talent.

Not even awards such as an ASCAP Award for Most Performed Songs, CMT's International Artist Achievement Award and a CMT Music Award for the "Country Boy" video garnered enough votes to trump the Grammy nod.

Three solo magazine covers in 2009 - Country Weekly (2) and an American Songwriter cover were not the highest vote-getters, either. The next highest percentage of votes went to the kids: Miles & Music For Kids (Dierks' motorcycle ride/concert benefiting Children's Miracle Network) expanded to 6 cities, with 17% of the vote, followed by Feel That Fire & Sideways - two number one singles in one year, obtaining 10%.

Dierks had a tremendous 2009 and I look forward to even more accomplishments in 2010 as he continues to grow in name-recognition, and talent. With two new albums planned (the first is a bluegrass CD), he is sure to surpass last year's feats.

Who knows? I am hoping this is the year he is nominated for Male Vocalist for both the ACM's and the CMA Awards!

~Ronna

DB Congress Chair

NEWEST DB CONGRESS MEMBERS

First Name: Clint

dierks.com username : cmb7869
Location: Kansas

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley song? Good Things Happen
What is your favorite Dierks Bentley album? Modern Day Drifter
What is your favorite Dierks Bentley music video? Long Trip Alone

What led you to be a fan? The reason I am a fan is because Dierks Bentley's music has been the soundtrack of my life. He sings the kinds of love songs I can relate to. I also listen to his music with my kids all the time. We just put on the Live from the Filmore DVD all the time. The kids are only 3 & 4 but they still know the words to Settle for a Slowdown.

Has Dierks or his music impacted your life in any way? I think the main way is it is what I listen to when I need motivation for a bad day of work. His songs can make you smile and inspire you at the same time.

How do you promote Dierks? My family always asks me to make video montages for people...it can be for funerals, trips, or birthdays. Since I make the video, I select the music that goes with it. I ALWAYS have a Dierks song in them, normally a non-single. They watch these videos over and over so they really get to know these songs.

Have a favorite Dierks memory? I am not sure this is a favorite, but it always makes me laugh. In a free show at Kansas City, I was at the M&G and I was trying to take a picture of his Las Vegas hat. So I had the camera zoomed in way too far, he turned around right as I was taking it and I have a very zoomed in picture of his head. Nothing like a dude taking another dude's picture at an extreme close-up. Anyway, my friends call that the "Dierks pose" and we like to do that pose with everyone.

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First Name: Monica
dierks.com username: DesertMoon
Location: Under the desert moon (Phoenix – Dierks hometown!)

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley song? What Was I Thinking

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley album? All of them!


What led you to be a fan? Love the music!

Has Dierks or his music impacted your life in any way? I work for an airline so I can fly around to see Dierks. My first fan club Meet and Greet was at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. I traveled with my daughter and her friend Liz. They were able to meet Dierks by the bus after the show. I told him their names at the M&G and he remembered and called them by name. I love how he loves his fans and is so nice to them!

(Lauren, Dierks, Liz)

Have a favorite Dierks memory? Meeting Dierks for the first time in Phoenix after a show by the bus. He was really tired but he came out and signed and took pics with those that were still waiting.
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Thanks for getting back to me, and sorry to all for such a long delay.

Welcome to Tooner1977(Illinois), Janine_mcelyea(Arkansas), budlightdon(Missouri), cmb7869(Kansas), sweetallover(Michigan), kimberlyw4499(Wisconsin), thad67(Michigan), and dierksgrl(Indiana)!

DBC TOTAL: 574 members!!!

BENTLEY RECORDS WITH A PUNCH

As we told you, Dierks Bentley is recording a new bluegrass record. Included on each of his previous albums along with the likes of the Del McCoury Band, and The Grascals, was a blugrass cut, and now an entire body of work for 2010 will apparently add at least one song recorded with The Punchbrothers!

Dierks posted the photo and caption below on Facebook/Twitter:



"recording w the @punchbrothers in Brooklyn. can see the statue of liberty from my microphone...insane. as is this band..in good way." #fb

I have long loved the bluegrass sound, and especially love Dierks' voice on the vocals, but frankly I have never followed any BG band enough to know them and their music like I have studied Dierks. So curiousity got the better of me and I had to check out The Punchbrothers.

You may remember composer-singer-mandolin player Chris Thile as a member of the Grammy Award–winning Nickel Creek. The Punchbrothers band name comes from a Mark Twain short story, Punch, Brothers, Punch! A Washington Post critic recently said Thile “may well be the most virtuosic American ever to play the mandolin.” Chris Eldridge, Paul Kowert, Noam Pikelny, and Gabe Witcher round out the group and are among some of the most in-demand musicians/performers in the world of bluegrass.

Thanks, Dierks, for exposing us to even more bluegrass artists, and for giving us a little hint of your work on this new album! We anxiously await the final product!

~Ronna

DIERKS SUPPORTS JIMMY'S JOURNEY

I've been a fan of country music artist Jimmy Wayne since I saw him at SeaWorld in 2004. And although this is a site dedicated to Dierks Bentley, I felt compelled to tell you about Jimmy's journey. Don' worry, Dierks is in this story, too!

As many of you know, Jimmy Wayne, who toured with Dierks Bentley and Brad Paisley last summer, began a bold, solo journey on New Year's Day to bring awareness to teen homelessness. He is walking--with nothing more than a back pack, tent, gloves and a coat, from Nashville, Tennessee to Phoenix, Arizona, in temperatures in the teens over the last few days.

His mission--dubbed the "Meet Me Halfway" campaign (since he is walking halfway across America)--is to to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless, especially at risk children, teens and young adults, but also raise funds for organizations that benefit homeless youth, including HomeBase Youth Services, a Phoenix, AZ -- based organization that provides essentials for homeless young adults.

“I realize beginning a mission like this in the dead of winter and walking through the middle of the country is going to be difficult, but I hope and pray I am up to the challenge,” Wayne said. “It’s going to be cold, rainy and maybe even snowing and that ground I sleep on at night is going to be really hard. But that’s what the homeless are dealing with each and every winter they go without a home of their own."

Teens who are aging out of the foster care system with no place to go, tend to end up homeless. This is a very personal cause for Jimmy, as he found himself in that situation as a teen after growing up in a variety of foster and group homes. He was given a second chance when Bea and Russell Costner gave him a home and fresh start when he was only 16 years old.

Although Jimmy is walking alone, he's had help along the way in the form of food, fellowship from fans and his management/record label.

Dierks Bentley has also offered his support, making donations to the Homebase Youth Services in honor of the Meet Me Halfway campaign (Homebase Youth Services is based in Dierks Bentley's hometown of Phoenix, AZ).

Follow Jimmy on his journey on Twitter.

Click here to watch a video from Fox 17 News in Nashville.

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair

DIERKS GIVES WET WELCOME TO 2010

Dierks Bentley, producer Brett Beavers (aka godfather of the gladiators) and crew gather each New Year's Day, choosing a slow march into the well below freezing waters of Percy Priest Lake near Nashville. This year, they chose to take the slow march in reverse, and Dierks chose to publish their 2 minute and 48 second 'what was I thinkin' moment on Twitter, Facebook and You Tube:

"just did our annual gladiator's Percy priest lake jump....coldest year yet. video footage will be up on Dierks.com tomorrow. happy 2010!

It was 28 degrees at lake jump this year! thx to our fans for a great 09.hopeful for a great '10 for everyone #fb"

I'm thinkin', now I know why DB has been growing the beard--to help keep his face warm in preparation for this annual ritual!

DIERKS' HOCKEY WALL OF HONOR

What's this? Dierks Bentley sporting a full beard and mustache? Yes, there's that (not sure I likey that), but this pic is showing off his Sea Dogs hockey jersey that was presented to him in September 2009 before a performance in Saint John.

Bentley was in the city as part of the sold-out show at Harbour Station featuring Brad Paisley and he proudly unveiled it between songs to a roaring-approval of the crowd of 7,000.

Dierks said he was going to hang it on his "Hockey Wall of Honor," located in his garage at his Nashville home.

"I got a huge thrill out of getting the jersey. It's something I don't take lightly, either. I mean, lots of teams give out jerseys to guys coming through town but this is unique. Not everyone has a Sea Dogs jersey."

For those who don't know, Dierks plays for the Nashville Ice Holes when he's not on the road performing.